Author: Amigos805.com

Frank X. Moraga is publisher / editor of Amigos805, providing information for and about the vibrant Latino community in Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties — "Bringing cultures together by sharing information."

Bilingual commentary: Extremism

Editor’s note: Amigos805 welcomes guest columns, letters to the editor and other submissions from our readers. All opinions expressed in submitted material are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the viewpoint of Amigos805. By David Magallanes / Guest contributor One…

Guest column: Mi Jefita Santos — La Curandera

Editor’s note: Amigos805 welcomes guest columns, letters to the editor and other submissions from our readers. All opinions expressed in submitted material are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the viewpoint of Amigos805. By Armando Vazquez / Guest contributor MI jefita…

11th annual Rebozo Festival to be held in Camarillo on May 17

CAMARILLO — The Rebozo Festival will celebrate its “10-year Diamond Anniversary” from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, May 17 at Camarillo Ranch, 201 Camarillo Ranch Road, Camarillo. The event will honor the “1st Annual Honorary Madrina of the Year” — the…

Oxnard College’s Latino Thought Makers Series to present ‘Create Option C’ on May 13

OXNARD — Oxnard College’s Latino Thought Makers Series will present “Create Option C” — with special guest Esai Morales at 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 13 at 4000 S. Rose Ave., Oxnard. The documentary by Morales takes the audience through the painful and raw…

UCSB Multicultural Center to present the discussion ‘Dreaming of Selena Twenty Years Later’ on May 11

SANTA BARBARA — The UCSB Multicultural Center will present the discussion “Dreaming of Selena Twenty Years Later” with Deborah Paredez at 6 p.m. Monday, May 11 at the MCC Lounge. 2015 marks the 20th anniversary of the passing of Selena Quintanilla…

El Concilio profile: Marisa Montgomery

Editor’s note: Part of a continuing series of stories profiling the award-winners of El Concilio Family Services’ 2015 Latino Leadership Awards. The awards gala will be held on Saturday, June 6 at the Oxnard Performing Arts Center. Click here or call 805-486-9777 for…

Book written by Allan Hancock College professor named a finalist for prestigious international Latino book awards

SANTA MARIA — Allan Hancock College English professor Marc García-Martínez, Ph.D., has been selected as a finalist for the 2015 International Latino Books Awards. García-Martínez’s book, The Flesh and Blood Aesthetics of Alejandro Morales’ – Disease, Sex, and Figuration, is a…

Bilingual commentary: Mothers

Editor’s note: Amigos805 welcomes guest columns, letters to the editor and other submissions from our readers. All opinions expressed in submitted material are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the viewpoint of Amigos805. By David Magallanes / Guest contributor Mothers…

Guest commentary: Why we distrust and fear the cops

In Oxnard and throughout the nation Editor’s note: Amigos805 welcomes guest columns, letters to the editor and other submissions from our readers. All opinions expressed in submitted material are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the viewpoint of…

Guest commentary: More than student loans, they are college mortgages

Editor’s note: Amigos805 welcomes guest columns, letters to the editor and other submissions from our readers. All opinions expressed in submitted material are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the viewpoint of Amigos805. By Frank P. Barajas / Guest contributor…

Guest commentary: A circular argument on impaction

Editor’s note: Amigos805 welcomes guest columns, letters to the editor and other submissions from our readers. All opinions expressed in submitted material are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the viewpoint of Amigos805. By Rodolfo F. Acuña / Guest contributor I…

Guest commentary: Cinco de Mayo — A battle for recognition

Editor’s note: Amigos805 welcomes guest columns, letters to the editor and other submissions from our readers. All opinions expressed in submitted material are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the viewpoint of Amigos805. By Dr. Lily Rivera /…

Oxnard College Performing Arts Center to present Teatro de las Américas’ ‘Pedro Infante y la Suegra Triunfante / Pedro Infante and the Triumphant Mother-in-law’ May 7 through 10

OXNARD — The Oxnard College Performing Arts Center will present Teatro de las Américas’ “Pedro Infante y la Suegra Triunfante / Pedro Infante and the Triumphant Mother-in-law” at 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturdays, 5 p.m. Sundays, May 5 through 170at the Black…

Girls Inc. of Carpinteria to present eighth annual Mariachi Encuentro featuring Mariachi Diva on May 9

CARPINTERIA — Girls Inc. of Carpinteria will present its eighth annual Mariachi Encuentro featuring Mariachi Divas from 5 to 9:30 p.m. Saturday, May 9 at the Girls Inc. of Carpinteria campus, 5315 Foothill Road, Carpinteria. Coinciding with Mother’s Day, Mariachi Encuentro is…

Bilingual report: Free community forum on obtaining a driver’s license under Assembly Bill 60 to be held in Oxnard on May 9

OXNARD — A free community forum on obtaining a driver’s license under Assembly Bill 60 will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 9 at the Center for Employment Training, 761 S. C St., Oxnard. Guest speakers scheduled include…

El Concilio profile: Richard Camacho

Editor’s note: Part of a continuing series of stories profiling the award-winners of El Concilio Family Services 2015 Latino Leadership Awards. The awards gala will be held on Saturday, June 6 at the Oxnard Performing Arts Center. Click here or call 805-486-9777 for…

Local news

CARPINTERIA — Girls Inc. of Carpinteria, a nonprofit organization seeking to inspire girls to be strong, smart and bold, recently hosted its Eureka! College Road Trip, with a group of local eighth-grade students spending Spring Break exploring college campuses between…

Finance: Household budget building how-to

By Metro Editorial Services (MS) The majority of families must live on budgets. Heads of households where money is no object may be able to spend at will, but many men and women must develop budgets so their families’ everyday…

Local business information

> The CLU Center for Entrepreneurship will presernt “Startup Weekend Conejo Valley” at 6:30 p.m. Friday, May 1 at the Huddle Campus.  The day after the Cal Lutheran New Venture Competition finals, the first Startup Weekend Conejo Valley will be…

Health: Encourage a love of physical activity in youngsters

By Metro Editorial Services (MS) According to the United States Department of Health and Human Services, children and adolescents should engage in physical activity for 60 minutes or more each day. While fulfilling those requirements might not have been a…

Local health information

> Clinicas del Camino Real Inc. will provide information on Covered California and free health screenings at selected locations throughout the month of May in Ventura County. Visit http://www.clinicas.org/outreach/calendar/2015-05 to find times, dates and locations.   > The Ventura County…

Bilingual commentary: When I lit up like a flower

Editor’s note: Amigos805 welcomes guest columns, letters to the editor and other submissions from our readers. All opinions expressed in submitted material are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the viewpoint of Amigos805. By David Magallanes / Guest contributor In…

Guest commentary: The Oxnard Multicultural Mental Health Coalition Latino Mental Health Survey

Editor’s note: Amigos805 welcomes guest columns, letters to the editor and other submissions from our readers. All opinions expressed in submitted material are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the viewpoint of Amigos805. By Armando Vazquez / Guest contributor We all…

UCSB Multicultural Center to present ‘Challenging the Borders of Education: Undocumented Students …’ on April 30

SANTA BARBARA — The UCSB Multicultural Center will present the Race Matters discussion of “ Challenging the Borders of Education: Undocumented Students and Public Pedagogy – Jennifer Nájera” at 6 p.m. Thursday, April 30 at the MCC Lounge. Who are our teachers? A critical…

Oxnard College Theatre Club to present ‘A Stand-Up Comedy Fundraiser’ on May 1

OXNARD — The Oxnard College Theatre Club presents “A Stand-Up Comedy Fundraiser” at 8 p.m. Friday, May 1  at the Oxnard College Performing Arts Center, 4000 S. Rose Ave., Oxnard. The event features comics Jason Love, Frank Lucero, Mary Patterson Broome and Dwayne…

UCSB Multicultural Center to present film screening of ‘Cesar’s Last Fast’ on April 29

SANTA BARBARA — The UCSB Multicultural Center will present the film screening of “Cesar’s Last Fast” at 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 29 at the MCC Theater. In 1988, César Chávez embarked on what would be the final act of protest in his…

El Concilio profile: José Alamillo

Editor’s note: Part of a continuing series of stories profiling the award-winners of El Concilio Family Services 2015 Latino Leadership Awards. The awards gala will be held on Saturday, June 6 at the Oxnard Performing Arts Center. Click here or call 805-486-9777 for…

CSU Channel Islands chosen to host 2016 national conference for Hispanic-Serving Institutions

CAMARILLO — CSU Channel Islands has taken a lead role in a national organization dedicated to helping Hispanic-serving institutions or HSIs. In March of 2016, the university will become the first of the CSU campuses to host the Alliance of Hispanic…

Bilingual commentary: After the demise of parents

Editor’s note: Amigos805 welcomes guest columns, letters to the editor and other submissions from our readers. All opinions expressed in submitted material are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the viewpoint of Amigos805. By David Magallanes / Guest contributor The…

Ballet Folklórico Mestizo Spring 2015 to be held April 24, 25

OXNARD — Ballet Folklórico Mestizo Spring 2015 will be presented at 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 24 and Saturday, April 25 at the Oxnard College Performing Arts Center, 4000 S. Rose Ave., Oxnard. The event will feature a special performance by the Oxnard…

Guest commentary: Oxnard Police Department’s Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Training is a Fraud

Editor’s note: Amigos805 welcomes guest columns, letters to the editor and other submissions from our readers. All opinions expressed in submitted material are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the viewpoint of Amigos805. By Armando Vazquez / Guest contributor As with…

Guest commentary: In Search of the almond

Impaction: A Symptom of Privatization Editor’s note: Amigos805 welcomes guest columns, letters to the editor and other submissions from our readers. All opinions expressed in submitted material are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the viewpoint of Amigos805. By Rodolfo…

Bilingual commentary: Educating the child at Oxnard College

Editor’s note: Amigos805 welcomes guest columns, letters to the editor and other submissions from our readers. All opinions expressed in submitted material are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the viewpoint of Amigos805. By David Magallanes / Guest contributor Parents…

Guest commentary: In the name of justice and love, stop the killings

Only a Community Police Review Board can reform the Oxnard Police Department Editor’s note: Amigos805 welcomes guest columns, letters to the editor and other submissions from our readers. All opinions expressed in submitted material are those of the author and do…

Guest commentary: ¡Agua y Libertad!

What do you do with Chicana/o Studies? Editor’s note: Amigos805 welcomes guest columns, letters to the editor and other submissions from our readers. All opinions expressed in submitted material are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the viewpoint…

Teatro de las Américas to present ‘The Truth Can’t Be Trusted / La verdad sospechos’ through April 19

OXNARD — Teatro de las Américas will present “The Truth Can’t Be Trusted / La verdad sospechosa” at 8 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays and 5 p.m. Sundays, April 9 through 19 at the Oxnard College Performing Arts Center, 4000 S. Rose…

Oxnard College Performing Arts Center to present ’53 Million & 1′ on April 15

OXNARD — The Oxnard College Performing Arts Center will present the Latino Thought Makers Series program — ’53 Million & 1? at 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 15 at 4000 S. Rose Ave., Oxnard. NAHREP (National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals) brings to Oxnard…

County Chief Probation Officer Mark Varela named president of statewide association

VENTURA – Ventura County Chief Probation Officer Mark Varela has been named as the president of the Chief Probation Officers of California (CPOC), county officials reported in a media release. The 55-year-old organization is based in Sacramento and Varela is…

Bilingual commentary: Rain, Gods and Saints

Editor’s note: Amigos805 welcomes guest columns, letters to the editor and other submissions from our readers. All opinions expressed in submitted material are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the viewpoint of Amigos805. By David Magallanes / Guest contributor As…

CSU Channel Islands to present ‘Si, Se Puede — Four Latina recent Math Ph.D’s share their journeys’ on April 8

CAMARILLO — CSU Channel Islands will present “Si, Se Puede — Four Latina recent Math Ph.D’s share their journeys” beginning with a reception from 4 to 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 8 at El Dorado Hall 110. Join four Latina recent PhDs to…

Santa Paula Museum of Art to present Gallery Talk: ‘How Coming from Uruguay Influenced My Work’ with Sylvia Raz on April 9

SANTA PAULA — The Santa Paula Museum of Art will present its next Gallery Talk: “How Coming from Uruguay Influenced My Work” with Sylvia Raz at 3 p.m. Thursday,  April 9 at 117 N. 10th St., Santa Paula. Artist Sylvia Raz…

CSU Channel Islands to present ‘Farmworker Immersion Project with VC CLUE’ on April 10

CAMARILLO — CSU Channel Islands will present the “Farmworker Immersion Project with VC CLUE” from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, April 10. The project places students in the community learning about farmworker rights and immigration issues. We will visit farmworkers, their…

20th annual ‘César E. Chávez Memorial Celebration — March for Justice’ to be held on April 12

OXNARD — The 20th annual ‘César E. Chávez Memorial Celebration — March for Justice’ will begin with the community gathering at 9 a.m. Sunday, April 12 at Oxnard Southwinds Park, 300 W. Clara St., with the march to begin at 10:30…